As soon as Grace mentions the issue of her not being his therapist,
Jared's eyes move to stare at a blank television screen. And he regrets
having turned it off. Though Grace continues, his eyes don't move. What
was he supposed to say now? He'd hoped she would find out he didn't want
her anymore, and just not come again. It would have been better. It
would have been easier. Why did she have to come see him today? Why did
she have to keep pushing? Why couldn't she just forget about him and
move on to something else?
As Jared continues to focus
on the blank television, the silence becomes unbearable. "I had to
think of some good reason," he eventually answers quietly. A new knot
forms in his stomach, making him feel queezy. "I couldn't just tell them
that I..."
He stops and turns his head completely to
find a small crack in the window blinds where sunshine was trying its
hardest to get through. His heart hurt. More than he wanted to admit.
"...that I didn't want you around anymore because I was afraid I'd hurt
you." His fingers fiddle with the bed sheets. "When we kiss, I... it... I
like it... too much. And I've never been able to control myself before,
but you're different... and I don't want you to get hurt."
Leaving
his head turned, he refuses to look back at Grace. "Guys like me don't
break their habits... and you deserve better than someone who will take
what they want and leave, like I'm so good at." Emotions churn within
him to the point of making his voice waver. "You're out of my league,
Grace. Move on. Please."
Clint gains a small bit of a smile, hoping what Wes said was true about the bad business. As far as the shop went, he was proud of himself for doing well enough that Wes would hand everything over to him, but he'd never forgotten the deal was 50/50. Even when they believed Wes to be dead, Clint had made sure Cindy had received half the profits.
With the subject back on Jim, Clint shouldn't have been surprised Wes had figured it out that quickly. Sighing, he shrugs. "Yeah well... he's done a lot of things unlike him lately."
Moving to the tool bench, he starts cleaning up a few things and putting some tools away, mostly just to keep his hands occupied so he wouldn't have to look at his uncle. "We got in an argument about Rosalyn and Chad. I told him he was just jealous. I shouldn't have, but I did. I was mad at how he was treating Rosalyn. In response, he just hauled off and hit me."
It still stung. Not just his eye, but on the inside. His dad had struck him. And the part of him deep down that was still a little boy hurt the worst. "I'm not even sure he was sorry. At that point, I just walked away from him. Rosalyn doesn't know about it though, and I'm not sure about Mom. She's staying neutral in the whole thing, and I can't blame her. As far as me though... I'm getting pretty tired of my sister getting hurt. She deserves better, ya know?"
Finally turning around, Clint's eyes meet Wes. "Unfortunately when I help her, I get black eyes in return."
Hunter chuckles and shakes his head. "I could be wrong but... I think I'm the lucky one in all this. You're the one that saved my life, remember?" Winking, he gives her hand a squeeze.
"But yes. You definitely should come sometime. Lots of hype. Lots of stupid people. But lots of fun too. At least I think so. I'm rather addicted to it."